Kalispera Bedfordview!
After seeing a post of their daily special being the “Lamb Frikase”, I had to pop in and try it out and being Friday, I knew they would also have all the weekend special items. It’s been years since I’ve been back there after tasting their most amazing Youvarlákia, which is a hearty soup with meatballs in a famous Greek avgolẻmono sauce(made of eggs and lemon juice). I cleared my schedule for the afternoon, picked up my wife and headed for a culinary experience in their upgraded and expanded restaurant in Senderwood.
Coffee Bar
Seating Outside Area
Deli
Meze Emporio, besides having a coffee bar and deli, offers a gastronomic delight of Greek cuisine in their airy restaurant. The sound of Greek music, chatter and laughter of patrons speaking various languages including Greek, the rustic interior and the glorious food transports you to Grecian atmosphere in a jiffy. With the tradition going back 20 years, when this was a deli, and by adding tables to serve friends, who would pop by to have a bite with him, it soon turned into a restaurant in 2010 by the visionary founder, Taki Betsakos to cater for the ever-growing number of patrons.
We are blessed to have this authentic Greek eatery a stones’ throw away from Bedfordview, and I’m sure to become a regular to savour the extensive menu of traditional Greek dishes.
Food Displays
Greek Coffee
Papoutsakia
Dolmades
Gemista
Beef Curry
Lamb Frikase
Lamb Giouvetsi
Now for the sampling, after a quick tour through the restaurant displays of the Greek dishes on offer and the special weekend dishes, with the bubbly Tina Betsakos, who with her two brothers and her lovely son Michael, now run the business, we dug into the delectable food opting for tasting portions:
- I started with a delightful cup of Greek Coffee, (sketos = with no sugar), that comes with a tasty Greek biscuit (Koulourakia)
- Then came the Papoutsakia – brinjals stuffed with mince and veggies with a Bechamel topping. The herby flavor of the mince with the fresh flavor of a perfectly cooked brinjal sent my taste buds into overdrive, and this was just the first dish
- Now onto the Dolmades made of cabbage leaves, stuffed with rice and mince in the avgolẻmono sauce. The tang of the sauce, the slight crunch of the cabbage and the divine flavour of the mince was just another flavour-burst happening in my mouth.
- Next item, the Gemista (pronounced Yemista) was a stuffed tomato with mince and vegetables. This also comes in a Green Pepper version with mince and both in Vegan options. Slicing through the firm tomato and melding that flavour with the meat was incredible. A must try dish!!
- We next tasted the very popular Beef curry with rice. With the tender beef and rounded tomato flavour with a hint of sweetness certainly explains why this is so popular.
- Now for the dish I’ve been waiting for – the Lamb Frikase. Oh my word, this hearty dish where the tender lamb, which has fallen off the bone cooked in the egg and lemon sauce with wilted lettuce was just sublime, that I kept my head down till every morsel was depleted. Absolute must try, when available. Glad I got there in time to get a portion of this heavenly dish.
- Now for the last dish, the Lamb Giouvetsi – succulent lamb shank in a rich tomato gravy, served with Orzo pasta was simply the best version I’ve ever eaten. Not to be missed if you love lamb shank married with a kind of “pasta rice”.
- Now for the three desserts we sampled
- The Kataifi was just sublime, with the right sweetness of the syrup, crunch of the nuts and heavenly pastry
- The layered Baklava was light with layers of tasty goodness. I love Baklava and this was real good.
- The Orange cake had a beautiful texture and the citrus flavour just oozes, making this a delectable dessert option.
- Finally, a single espresso and a kourabides to end this amazing meal
Kataifi and layered Baklava
Orange Cake
Espresso and Koulourakia
Engie
Tina and my wife having a chuckle
The service by head waitron, Engie, who with her “Soprano” voice tended to us with smiles, energy and such delight, that you could see she loves being there. So, too for all the managers and other waitrons. Energy and smiles all around as they scurry past serving with a sense of urgency!!
Definitely go try them out and have a wonderful Greek dining experience and be transported to another world of cuisine excellence.
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